People Archive - LexisNexis Middle East

Dilini Loku

10/12/202510/12/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Senior Associate, Gateley Middle East

Dilini is a UK-qualified lawyer with over ten years’ experience in providing employment and pensions law advice to a diverse range of businesses from start-ups to multi-national companies.

Dilini has expertise in guiding businesses with restructures, reorganisations, redundancies, transfer of employees, global mobility solutions, senior executive appointments, and terminations.

Dilini is well versed in all aspects of non-contentious employment law and as well advising on day-to-day HR issues and strategic employee risk management, she regularly advises on and drafts employment contracts, director service agreements, consultancy agreements, business protection agreements, non-disclosure agreements, employment policies and procedures. She is also instructed on employee benefit design matters with particular focus on employee share option schemes. Dilini has advised on the employment aspects of a number of high-profile mergers and acquisitions in the UAE.

Dilini’s practice also encompasses contentious matters for both employers and employees before the local labour courts, the DIFC courts and the ADGM courts in relation to bonus disputes, whistleblowing, and discrimination.

Dilini regularly delivers bespoke employment law training to HR professionals on labour law and updates, terminations, diversity, equality and inclusion, and business protection. She has also written articles and thought leadership pieces, including a practice note for lawyers in relation to employee share option schemes in the UAE.

Dilini has been named a ‘Rising Star’ in UAE Employment Law by the Legal 500 rankings in 2022 and 2023.

Dr. Aseel Zimmo FCIArb

13/11/202513/11/2025
by Hannah Gutang

DR. ASEEL ZIMMO FCIARB
Commercial Arbitrator, Mediator, Lawyer & Director, Traction4Business

Dr. Aseel Zimmo FCIArb is a distinguished international commercial arbitrator, mediator, and lawyer with over 15 years of experience in dispute resolution across the Middle East and beyond. Her expertise spans complex disputes in construction, telecommunications, real estate, corporate transactions, and general commercial matters. She has acted in both institutional and ad hoc proceedings conducted in Arabic and English under leading arbitration rules, including ICC, LCIA, DIAC, CRCICA, OAC, GCCCAC, and UNCITRAL.

A Fellow and faculty member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Dr. Zimmo serves on numerous regional and international arbitration panels such as the LCIA, SCCA, DIAC, CRCICA, LAMC, and OAC. She is also a registered arbitrator and mediator with the Bahraini Ministry of Justice and sits on the advisory committee of the Mediation Hub. Her mediation practice covers commercial, corporate, family business, real estate, and construction disputes. Notably, she contributed to the drafting of
Bahrain’s mediation law and regulations, demonstrating her leadership in shaping the region’s ADR landscape.

Dr. Zimmo has designed and delivered advanced training programs in arbitration, mediation, and negotiation through globally recognized institutions including CIArb and the Judicial and Legal Studies Institute. She is a frequent speaker at international conferences such as Dubai Arbitration Week, Riyadh International Disputes Week, and London International Disputes Week, where she shares insights on dispute resolution trends and institutional developments.

Previously serving as an advisor to Bahrain’s Chief Justice and Minister of Justice, she played a key role in legislative drafting and reforms to the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution (BCDR). Dr. Zimmo holds an LLM from King’s College London and a PhD in International Commercial Arbitration from the London School of Economics, and is admitted to practice in both New York and Jordan, bridging civil and common law.

Robert Whitehead

12/10/202512/10/2025
by Hannah Gutang

ROBERT WHITEHEAD

Partner | HAS Law Firm

Robert Whitehead, Partner at HAS Law Firm, is a highly accomplished disputes lawyer with deep expertise in commercial fraud, asset tracing, and cross-border enforcement. His broad practice spans complex commercial and financial disputes involving property, infrastructure, banking, finance, and shareholder matters, often intersecting with allegations of fraud and misconduct.

Before relocating to the UAE, Robert practiced at Clyde & Co LLP in London, where he represented international blue-chip clients before the Commercial Court, Chancery Division, and the Court of Appeal in large-loss, multi-party, and cross-jurisdictional disputes. This foundation gives him exceptional insight into both common law litigation and international enforcement dynamics.

In the UAE, Robert has developed substantial experience before the DIFC Courts and various arbitral tribunals under DIAC, DIFC-LCIA, and ICC rules. His notable work includes leading a USD 90 million fraud claim in the DIFC Courts and successfully defending complex jurisdictional challenges on behalf of international liquidators and financial institutions.

With a focus on multi-jurisdiction enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards, Robert routinely advises clients on applicable law, jurisdictional conflicts, and strategic asset recovery. His ability to bridge DIFC and offshore legal frameworks positions him as one of the region’s foremost practitioners in fraud litigation and enforcement.

Holding an LLB (Hons) from Durham University and the LPC from York College of Law, Robert brings both academic rigour and extensive practical experience, making him exceptionally qualified to lead this course on commercial fraud and asset recovery in MENA.

HANAN AL QENNAH

03/10/202503/10/2025
by Maristela Albores

HANAN AL QENNAH

Partner | HAS Law

Hanan Al Qennah is a seasoned legal strategist with nearly 30 years of experience advising governments, corporations, and international institutions across the UAE, Jordan, and the wider MENA region. Her expertise spans regulatory frameworks in tourism, oil and gas, construction, and corporate law. She has held senior roles including Head of Policy Advocacy at Dubai Chambers and Legal Counsel at the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism, where she played a key role in shaping sector-wide legal reforms.

Hanan has collaborated with Big Four firms on regulatory development and compliance strategies, and her work has influenced legislation across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Oman. She is known for her ability to translate complex legal landscapes into actionable policy and governance models.

With over 500 lectures delivered on law, regulation, and policy advocacy, Hanan brings a wealth of practical insight to emerging legal challenges—particularly in the fast-evolving field of artificial intelligence. She holds an LLM from Warwick University and executive training from Harvard, and is admitted to practice in Jordan. Her session will bridge global AI regulatory trends with UAE legal realities, offering legal professionals strategic tools for compliance and advisory.

Dragos Fundulea

19/09/202519/09/2025
by Maristela Albores

DRAGOS FUNDULEA

VP- Sustainable Practice | Kearney

Dragos Fundulea is a sustainability expert, with 15 years of experience in implementing innovative solutions for companies in the energy, industrial, and transportation sectors.

With both an engineering and business background, Dragos specializes in alternative/ green technologies (e.g., low-emission vehicles & infrastructure, liquid and gaseous biofuels, renewable solutions, energy storage), as well as the development of decarbonization and environmental strategies.

He has extensive experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Passionate about pragmatic approaches, he firmly believes that tailored solutions for each region/ market context should be crafted to drive zero-/ and low-carbon solutions, with coordinated efforts from all key stakeholders in the ecosystem.

Dragos advocates that sustainability will be the major driver in the future for enhanced competitiveness, superior talent acquisition & retention, as well as customer loyalty.

Nitin Agarwal

26/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Nitin Agarwal – Director, Indirect Tax Operations at Majid Al Futtaim Holding

As Director of Indirect Tax Operations at Majid Al Futtaim Holding LLC, Nitin leads the Group’s indirect tax strategy and operations across 15+ countries, covering diverse verticals including Retail, Real Estate, Entertainment, Communities, and Digital.

He is spearheading the centralisation and transformation of the Group’s indirect tax function—building a center of excellence, standardizing processes, embedding automation, and delivering scalable, risk-managed solutions. He also serves on the UAE Federal Tax Authority’s Business Advisory Group for VAT and Excise, and have actively contributed to the UAE e-invoicing consultation group, shaping the country’s digital tax future.

Previously, he led the award-winning tax function at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour UAE, recognised as ITR’s In-House Indirect Tax Team of the Year (EMEA) in 2023, and earned back-to-back nominations as In-House Indirect Tax Leader of the Year (2023 & 2024). With 20+ years of experience in tax, audit, finance, and project management, Nitin Spearheaded major tax initiatives, including ERP integrations, tax technology rollouts, and cross-border compliance programs in collaboration with Big 4 advisors and global teams.

He is known to lead with a people-first mindset, combining strategic clarity, technical depth, and a passion for innovation to elevate the role of tax as a value-generating function.

Joywin Mathew

21/08/202512/11/2025
by Benjamin Filaferro

Joywin Mathew

Partner | Squire Patton Boggs

Joywin Mathew is a debt capital markets lawyer and partner at global law firm Squire Patton Boggs advising sovereigns, corporates, financial institutions and asset managers on complex international debt transactions.

Joywin is also an industry recognised expert on blue finance and climate finance and works with a diverse group of stakeholders on advancing the cause of a sustainable ocean economy and in particular on how blue finance and blue bonds can play a critical role in unlocking financing for ocean initiatives including the implementation of the SDGs related to the ocean.

Joywin serves on the United Nations Global Compact’s Ocean Investment Protocol Advisory Board and a member of the Legal Experts Committee of the Centre for Sustainable Development set up by the University of Cambridge and the Commonwealth Secretariat to provide legal and strategic advice on appropriate regulatory frameworks that could enable access to funds to Small Island Developing States.

Joywin is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Blue Bond Accelerator (BBA), a new initiative from the Ocean Risk Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) designed to drive long-term, large-scale capital flows from global fixed-income markets into the sustainable blue economy, with a particular focus on low and middle-income countries.

Halil Erdem

19/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Halil Erdem

Vice President of Tax | Tax Lawyer | Author | Lecturer

With over 13 years of extensive tax experience across Europe and the Middle East, Halil has guided international companies through complex tax landscapes in Europe and the MENAP region. His career blends advisory expertise with nearly 5 years as an in-house tax advisor, where he provided strategic guidance and successfully implemented effective tax solutions.

Halil also spent 8 years working at Big 4 firms, KPMG and PwC, where he gained invaluable experience advising clients on a wide range of tax matters. This foundation helped him build a strong technical background and the ability to address complex tax challenges with confidence.

In his most recent role, Halil established and developed a comprehensive tax function in response to the UAE’s introduction of Corporate Tax, Transfer Pricing, and Pillar 2 rules. His work included designing compliance frameworks, optimizing corporate structures, and embedding tax processes into business operations. This hands-on approach showcases his ability to translate complex regulations into practical, actionable solutions.

Halil holds a Bachelor’s in Dutch Law, a Master’s in International and European Taxation (Direct Taxes) from the University of Amsterdam, and a Post Master’s in Indirect Taxes from Maastricht University. He is the author of Fundamentals of GCC VAT, a reference for tax professionals in over 20 countries, and is currently working on a new book in the Direct Tax space. Additionally, he lectures at Middlesex University Dubai and the University of Amsterdam.

Known for his thoughtful and collaborative approach, as well as his ability to build meaningful relationships, Halil is valued by peers and professionals across the UAE, GCC, and Europe.

Kanupriya Sharma

19/08/202519/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Kanupriya Sharma, Advocate

Kanupriya is a licensed attorney with over five years of experience specializing in corporate tax advisory, litigation, and international tax. She holds a dual degree in law and business administration, along with a master’s in tax law. Having worked with Big 4 and Tier 1 law firms in India, she has advised multinational corporations, investors, and businesses on navigating India’s tax and regulatory landscape. Her expertise includes cross-border taxation, treaty interpretation, and tax policy. She regularly writes on international tax developments, providing insights into the evolving global tax framework.

Bilal Asif

19/08/202519/08/2025
by Tanya Jain

Senior Manager Finance Operations & Taxation
ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Al Jubail

Bilal Asif is a seasoned finance and tax professional with extensive experience in tax compliance and regulatory matters. With a deep understanding of the Saudi tax landscape, he has helped corporations navigate complex taxation challenges while optimizing their tax positions.

Bilal regularly shares insights on tax developments and the digital transformation of taxation, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. He has participated in industry panels and discussions on e-invoicing and tax technology, offering thought leadership on emerging regulatory trends.